Upper Mississippi locks closed by high water

High water levels on the upper Mississippi River have caused several lock closures and spurred delays for barge carriers.

Lock and Dams (L&D) 12, 16 and 17 on the upper Mississippi River closed 2 July and are expected to remain closed through the rest of this week and possibly into the next, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers. Locks 11, 13, 18 and 20 are expected to close on 4 July. The Corps will likely close locks 14 and 22 on 5 July, while lock 15 is expected to close 6 July.

The Corps said the duration of the July 4-5 closures is unclear.

Another 2-5 inches of rain fell along the western Corn Belt in the past week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. High river conditions led to major flood status at Dubuque, Iowa, while other locations along the river are at moderate flooding levels. Water levels are 4-5ft below record highs on the upper Mississippi River.

The outdraft at lock and dam 16 was at 211,444 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Tuesday, compared with typical flow of 41,100cfs.

Major barge carrier American Commercial Barge Line anticipates 7-10 days of disruption followed by a 2-3 week catch-up.

By Meghan Yoyotte